Puppy Survival Thread: muddy footprints into Spring 2022

[tizwozliz]

Discussion of all things puppy...

Previous thread here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/4451767-Puppy-Survival-Thread-surviving-into-2022

Teenagers also welcome

Awww- she's gorgeous!

@MadeInDogenham oh she's so cute!

She’s so lovely! Hope you got a bit more sleep last night 🤞

Fawkespup is such a handsome boy too

She's a beautiful little sleep thief. Last night wasn't great, (massive understatement). I have ordered a pet safe heat pad for her and hoping that will help settle her tonight.

Good luck with the sleep @MadeInDogenham

The broken sleep was definitely the hardest part of those first few weeks for us.

@MadeInDogenham urgh very rough night... have you tried leaving a worn top or dressing gown with her so smells of you and is comforting?

Worn top, heat pad and eventually the radio on very very low was the sleep ticket for us for better nights.

She's very cute!

Thanks for the advice She has a blanket with her mum's scent on it, and she seems happy enough to pop in and out of the crate in the day on her own which is good. I think the heat pad will help too, I'll wrap it in one of my T-shirts and that might be even better.

I'm sleeping on the sofa close to her, and did manage to soothe her by talking to her from a distance a couple of times, rather than going right next to her crate, so there was an improvement. But am heavily reliant on caffeine today! She's doing so well in the daytime though (so far) so we are very lucky in some regards.

Just pulled another tick off the pup today - hateful things. Wondering whether we need to look into something to deter/kill them. I think collars are out as pup still sleeps on our bed

@tizwozliz I feel your pain. I saw something crawling on SPup's head and realised it was a small tick which had yet to attach itself 🤮

We use simparcia flea and tick tablets from the vet every few months over the summer. Hedgerow hounds has a herbal flea & tick supplement which I'm also going to try.

And another tick removed this evening

Mine is on Nexguard spectra, which kills them and fleas. Does most of the worming too, we just have Milpro once every 3 months on top.

I think Bravecto is similar.

I don't think we've had any ticks yet. I don't think we go many places that ticks tend to be found. I'm very glad about that.

AwesomePup had his annual check up and booster vaccinations on Tuesday. We were in the waiting room for ages, so he had tons of treats to keep him calm and quiet rather than attempting to play with the other dog. Then when we went in, pup took a dislike to the vet and wouldn't let him anywhere near. The vet was very nice, chatting away about the adolescent fear phase which I agreed with and mentioned he wasn't keen on men. The vet sat calmly offering treats for ages, but pup just leaned in, took the treats and retreated back to me quickly. Whenever the vet tried to get closer pup growled!! He's never growled at anyone in his life, why would he start with the vet? Although he did have a cast on his arm which pup has never seen before, so that might have been the problem. He had his injection from 2 vet nurses who he behaved beautifully for, but he hasn't had any sort of meaningful check up, lol

@MsAwesomeDragon it could well have been the cast or maybe the vet had a funny clinically type smell? Mine is generally happy to meet and be fussed over by most people - however doesn't like men aged 18-24ish in hoodies that smell of weed that hang around near the station! She will growl and back away from them lol.

TerrorPup hasn't had a tick yet at all (this summer or last). I had to remove one off my husband last week, and fairly sure I had one last summer.

Thanks Aria. I know rationally that there was something about the vet that worried him, but it was a bit embarrassing that he wouldn't even let the vet get close at all. He generally quite likes people, but doesn't really like men without dogs, he has barked at a few men on their own when we've been out on walks. It's like men shouldn't be allowed out unless they've brought a dog with them.

Hey everyone, a month ago I lost my darling 11 month old puppy unexpectedly. I was completely devastated, I loved him so so much. Cried for days. In such a short space of time he had become my companion and sidekick in life. I had never had a dog before and it left me heartbroken. I didn't realised it could hurt so much. I miss him so much and life is not the same without him. I've really enjoyed following this thread both when I had him and since he left, hearing all your stories.

The shock has subsided and I am now happy to share we have welcomed a 9 week old puppy in to our lives! It was not planned to be so soon but the Universe seemed to have other ideas. It is a bit surreal. Back to the basics now with toilet training and all the rest of it...! Wish me luck.

Just really wanted to say thank you everyone for sharing your stories and for this thread :)

@foreverinmyheart sorry to hear you lost your previous pup so young. I hope your new pup brings you lots of joy!

@MsAwesomeDragon yes mine does seem more wary of lone men walking in the woods now you mention it! She's fine if they have kids/dog/partner with them though and she's also fine walking past lone men outside a shop or the post man or a tradesman coming into our house, just not a lone man in the woods. Perhaps she is being protective of me and gets a vibe? We've had it a couple of times and I myself have felt uneasy/vulnerable being on my own in a very remote spot and then seeing a man just there on his own without a dog, so makes sense she picks up on that I suppose.

Thank you @Aria20 I admit it is harder to feel so sad with a small puppy!

On the tick posts, I'm dreading the day I find a tick...!

We've had a weekend away camping, so walks in the woods, swims in the sea and a meet up with Ada's mum and one of her sisters. Now one very shattered pup.

foreverinmyheart - I’m so sorry about your lovely pup and I’m glad your new addition is helping you x

We’ve hit teenage stage here I think 🙄🙄 recall seemingly disappeared overnight (which he’d always been brilliant at!) and he’s like a feral beast whenever we leave the house. If I thought his waking on a lead was bad before he’s now ramped that up considerably…….. On the flip side he’s being lovely in the house and so much better at being left now

My pup recently turned one. Where has the time gone? He is such a lovable, sweet, and funny fellow.

Two years ago we lost our beloved dog. If it had been entirely up to me, I probably wouldn't have got a new puppy afterward. The pain of that loss was so deep. But DH really wanted another pup so I allowed myself to be persuaded. To be honest, the grief I feel for our previous dog is still intense. But I am so very glad I agreed to take that leap of faith with this pup. He has brought us so much joy (and a few new grey hairs as well!).

Wolfpup is now nearly 19 weeks, he's 80% chilled and easy but has been horrendous when we are cooking/eating, keeps jumping up and its dangerous at times. He's 21.4kg now and so tall so it's a nightmare. I wish I knew why he has suddenly become so determined to get to our food, he never has before. He only has kibble, I wonder if he's just one of these dogs who needs variety? Our other pup is not bothered. Or perhaps start feeding everything in a snuffle mat (although he may eat the mat also)

Other issue is at night, he's not settling well anymore, he was brilliant. Not sure if its too hot, but he also needs a wee after 4/5 hours, he could go a lot longer before. Again, possibly the heat? He drinks so much but obviously I would never limit his water even through the night. I am getting tired and also worried as going away for 4 nights next week so DH needs to manage on his own and he's not great at the best of times, he tries hard but gets a bit panicky.

If anyone has any tips it would be much appreciated.

Could you try giving him a long lasting chew or filled Kong while you’re eating or cooking? Not sure how long that’d keep him going but may give you some brief respite!!

We also had a blip in sleep around that age, lasted a couple of weeks and now back to normal